Agritech at the service of sustainable viticulture: smart technologies to combat drought in the vineyard and improve wine quality.

Jolanda di Savoia, 14 August 2025 – The scorching heat of recent days brings the issue of drought back to the forefront. A problem affecting the whole of Italy, it is also impacting wineries already engaged in the harvest. Increasing water crises caused by climate change threaten Italian viticulture. Agritech solutions are proving to be an effective way to cope with drought, offering concrete strategies for intelligent vineyard irrigation while safeguarding wine quality.

Forecasts for the 2025 Harvest
The 2025 grape harvest in Italy started early, with the South and islands moving in the opposite direction to Central-Northern regions: in the South, production is expected to rise by up to 20%, with grapes in excellent health, while in Central-Northern areas yields are falling by 10–20%, though clusters remain healthy. According to the Italian Academy of Vine and Wine, results vary by region: in the North, harvests began early; in Emilia-Romagna and Marche estimates are up for several varieties, while Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria report moderate declines. Sicily and Sardinia are seeing higher yields, except for some areas affected by fungal diseases. Final quality will depend on conditions in August and September. Coldiretti estimates production at 45 million hectoliters, in line with previous years.

Drought in the Vineyard
In Italy, about 225,000 hectares of vineyards are irrigated, equal to 9.5% of total irrigated farmland. Drip irrigation covers 21.5%, while sprinkler irrigation accounts for 38%. The average water requirement for vines is around 4,000 m³/ha per season.

“Technologies such as IoT sensors and AI can reduce water waste by up to 50%, while digital agriculture and big data enable water savings of up to 20% thanks to automated monitoring and control,” explains Roberto Mancini, CEO of Diagram Group. “We can say that a smart drip irrigation system, managed through integrated monitoring of soil, leaves, and stems, ensures plant health with minimal use of surface water and energy resources.”

Technology in the Vineyard
Solutions include automated drip irrigation systems with sensors monitoring soil moisture and water stress. Water input is optimized in real time, aided by drones mapping leaf coverage. Other tools include cloud/IoT platforms managing irrigation valves based on weather forecasts and real-time environmental data. This ensures water is delivered at the right time and in the right amount, cutting water, energy, and chemical inputs.

“Among the practical options for Italian winegrowers is drip micro-irrigation combined with sensors and DSS/mobile apps, a solution effective even for medium-sized vineyards. This can achieve up to 60% water savings with greater precision and reduced leaf stress,” notes Mancini. “Advanced smart systems with AI and IoT can also be retrofitted to existing installations, achieving water savings of up to 50%. Predictive fertigation in central-southern and mountain areas further delivers grape quality even in hot conditions, with water savings of around 40%.”

Thus, agritech provides concrete, proven answers to vineyard drought, delivering significant water savings and quality improvements. “The mix of technologies—micro-irrigation, AI, predictive fertigation—helps winegrowers preserve environmental sustainability without compromising the identity of their wines,” Mancini adds.

“We all need to believe in this—institutions and private players alike. We must invest in pilot projects coordinated with universities and research centers, encourage adoption through dedicated grants and funds, and support training and technology transfer to the production sector. Our collective goal should be to make Italian viticulture resilient, innovative, and sustainable—even in the era of climate challenges,” concludes CEO  Diagram.